Riddles:Riddles:Fun with Language Across

the Curriculum

h ffDr. Rita Buchoff

Wh t did th t h s h n th What did the teacher say when the student wrote WETHER?

((That is the worst spell of weather we’ve had for a long time.)

Why should you work on your penmanship?(It is the write thing to do )(It is the write thing to do.)

Wh th th b k h ?Why was the math book so unhappy?

It has a lot of problems.p

Wh did th i t h th th Why did the science teacher throw the thermometers out the window?

She wanted to see the temperature drop, of course!

Why do riddles appeal to hild ?children?

Riddl ff d i • Riddles offer students an opportunity to experiment with language in unexpected or unusual waysunusual ways.

Even when they glance at the solution their • Even when they glance at the solution, their enthusiasm is not diminished as they ardently continue to peruse these thought provoking continue to peruse these thought provoking opportunities seen as play.

• When we hear a riddle, a thousand possible answers go rattling through our minds but when answers go rattling through our minds, but when we arrive at the right one, there is a moment of delight. The world is made richer by a twist of l language.

• Once we’ve got the answer we can take the riddle • Once we ve got the answer, we can take the riddle to someone who hasn’t heard it. Now, we are in a position of power, since we are in the know!

• Ever since language began, riddles have been enjoyed Why? Because we are all caught up in enjoyed. Why? Because we are all caught up in questions and answers. We ask the question “Why?” when we are two years old, and we don’t stop asking for the rest of our lives.

What I hope you learn from this presentation is …

When riddles are age appropriate, they are certain to bring the satisfaction

p

are certain to bring the satisfaction that encourages children to return to them repeatedlythem repeatedly.

They can be used to develop knowledge They can be used to develop knowledge across the curriculum as well as an enjoyment of language and literatureenjoyment of language and literature.

Math Riddles

50 miles50 miles

4:30

12:15

Yes, 20 hrs.

Arithme-Tickle: An Even Number of Odd Riddle- RhymesJ. Patrick Lewis

l

Arithme-Tickle: An Even Number of Odd Riddle-RhymesJ. Patrick Lewis

ABC Math Riddles

Jannelle Martin

Math Riddle Books by Greg Tang . . .

These are too good to miss!g

l dSocial Studies

This tall handsome ladyOn Uncle Sam’s porch On Uncle Sam s porch Stands still as a statueHolding a torchHolding a torch.

Wh i it? Who is it?

Riddle-iciousJ. Patrick Lewis

The RiderThe Rider

Lanterns glowingg gjust for me.Two lights warn:Att k b Attack by sea.

Horseback ridingHorseback r d ngthrough the nightRedcoats coming.

’ll fi h

Paul Revere

Soon we’ll fight.

Who am I?

Yankee Doodle Riddles: American History FunJoan Holub

Who am I?

Guess Which Prez Says . . .

I love honey!Rutherford Bee (B.) Haynes

2 + 2 = 4John Ad-amsJohn Ad ams

I am not happy.James Mad-ison

If I had a canoe I’d paddleIf I had a canoe, I d paddle.Wood-row Wilson

I never fib.Harry Tru-man

Yankee Doodle Riddles: American History FunJoan Holub

Th f lkt l f d th ldThese are folktales from around the world that contain a mystery (riddle) for the

d t lreader to solve.

Hi h L l Higher Level Thinking Skillsg

The Thief of Words

A moth devoured words. When I heard of that wonder it seemed strange—When I heard of that wonder it seemed strange

That a thief should swallow a song,That a thief should eat a great man’s speech.g pAnd for all his labor, that thief was no wiser –

For the words he had swallowed.Who was the thief of words?

A Bookworm

Riddle Me This: Riddles and Stories to Challenge Your MindHugh Lupton

A Bookworm

Think Again! Think Again!

You go into it through one hole,You come out of it through three holes,You come out of it through three holes,When you’re inside it you’re ready to

go outside,When you’re outside you’re still inside.What is it?

A Sweater or Coat

Riddle Me This: Riddles and Stories to Challenge Your MindHugh Lupton

Can you follow these clever clues?

If you eat it over-under,Butter dribbles down your chin.If you eat it sideways thoughIf you eat it sideways, though,Sometimes you might miss a row. (Corn on the Cob)

What’s in a song, but not in a tune?What’s in a star, but not in the moon?,What’s in the sun, but gone in the night,Out of range, but still in sight? (The letter “S”)

Riddle-iciousJ. Patrick Lewis

Science

Gravity

Scien-Trickery J. Patrick Lewis

Scien-Trickey

J. Patrick Lewis

Lunar Eclipse

Crazy EightsCrazy Eights

What kind of eight …..

•happens to water when you heat it?Evaporate

•happens to a seed when it sprouts?G min 8Germin-8

•belongs to a creature with no backbone?Invertebr-8Invertebr 8

•do bears like best?Hibern-8

The Wackiest Nature Riddles on EarthMike Artell

Expand Your Knowledge of ScienceMy name starts with letter A.yI have a pleasant smell.I’m sometimes used for trinketsThat artists make and sell.During prehistoric times, I oozed from trunks of treesI oozed from trunks of trees,Lots of things got trapped in me –Like spiders ants and beesLike spiders, ants, and bees.People travel far and wideTo look for chunks of me.I’m a light brown resin.Can you guess what I might be?

a _ _ _ _amber

ABC Science Riddles Barbara Saffer

Language Arts

• As children learn that words have the power to amuse, they enjoy reading, telling, and writing riddles.

• Riddles may seem foolish by adult standards but wordplay is an importantstandards, but wordplay is an important precursor to understanding literal and figurative language multiple meanings offigurative language, multiple meanings of words, and sound patterns. It can also be the foundation for writing poetrythe foundation for writing poetry.

Hink Pink

What is a large feline? gFat Cat

What is an enjoyable jog called?Fun Run

Wh t i bbit’ t? What is a rabbit’s seat? Hare Chair

• A hink pink is a riddle in which the answer is made up of two one syllable rhymingis made up of two, one-syllable rhyming words.

Mouse – HouseMouse HouseRude - DudeRock – Jock

• A hinky pinky is a riddle in which the i d f t t ll blanswer is made up of two, two-syllable

rhyming words.» Fraction Action» Fraction – Action» Alley – Rally » Cryin’ - Liony

Try Some!Try Some!

• Look at these two words Can you writeLook at these two words. Can you write the clue?

»Funny Bunny»Funny – Bunny

L t’ t i !• Let’s try again! »Lip – Drip

Let’s Make a Hink Pink or Hinky PinkyLet s Make a Hink Pink or Hinky PinkyPop- Up Book!

1. Think of either two, one syllable rhyming words or two, two-syllable rhyming words.y y gRemember, they need to rhyme and go together even if they are silly.Hink Pink: Grape-Ape, Gal-Pal, Bad-Lad, etc.Hinky Pinky: Pretty-Kitty, Crazy-Daisy, Funny-Bunny

2.The next step is to find a good clue that describes your answer.Example: What is a naughty boy? (Bad Lad)

1 Take two pieces of paper 1. Take two pieces of paper. Fold each paper in half. Put one paper aside.

2. In the middle of the folded edge place two g pdots about 1” apart.

3. Starting at the dots, draw two parallel lines towards the edge of the paper. Each line should be about 1” long.

4. Cut the lines starting from the folded edge.

5. Fold the strip back and then fold it forward again.

6. Open your paper and hold it like a tent. Push the strip throughto the other side of your paper Close the paper and press firmly to the other side of your paper. Close the paper and press firmly. Open to see the pop­up strip.

7. Draw an illustration for your riddle on a sheet of paper. The figure can be a little taller and wider than your strip. Color in the figure, y p gand then cut it out.

8. Apply glue on one side of the strip. Place the figure on the glue.

9.Now glue your pop-up page to the paper you put aside, which now becomes the outside cover. When you open your y p yriddle, the little cut-out figure will pop up.

10. On the front of the paper, write your hink-pink or hinky

pinky.Now, open the paper and

write the answer

What do you call a fried grouper on a plate? (hinky pinky)

write the answer.

You’ve made a pop-up riddle!riddle!

A Fishy Dishy!

In Conclusion . . .In Conclusion . . .

• Riddles are one of the oldest forms ofRiddles are one of the oldest forms of poetry

• Build key literacy skills• Build key literacy skills • Enrich thematic units• Capture and focus student attention• Add FUN to every lesson! y

What is the English language’s What is the English language s longest word?

sMILEs